Monthly Archives: April 2015

Tonight, while prepping for another class, I ran across a radio interview of Jimmy DeYoung, where he and John MacArthur both claim that anyone who takes the Mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation could still possibly be saved afterwards. Though I personally would like to agree with them, as a student of Scripture, it is absolutely critical that I side on the side of God’s Word.

As most of my readers know by now, I take a literal interpretation of the Bible. I don’t go chasing after the most popular view, nor do I side with any denomination. Unless Scripture says it’s a simile or something not to be taken literally, we must take everything in the Bible literally.

Now, why should we believe that anyone who takes the Mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation, can never be saved? Let’s do what Jimmy DeYoung says, and “Look at the Book.”

I. WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST

First off, What is the Mark of the Beast? The answer is found in Revelation 13.

Revelation 13:11-1811 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

This passage talks about the Second Beast, also known as the False Prophet. He creates a religious cult around the First Beat, or Anti-Christ, by showing great signs and wonders, setting up a great idol of the Anti-Christ, and forcing everyone to worship it. This Second Beast also sets up a personal identification system, which places the Mark of the Beast on his worshipers, allowing them to do trade and business in the Beast’s empire. Mind you, this mark is purely voluntary, and you don’t have to get it, BUT you will not be allowed to by groceries or use the ATM machine without it. You will be an outsider, and a cast-away. Eventually, you will be marked as a dissident, and one who needs to be hunted down and exterminated, just like the Jews were during World War 2.

And the actual number, 666; what does it mean? Well that’s easy, because God’s Word tells us what that means: it’s the number of a man! You see, the Second Beast is going to be doing a lot of signs and wonders. The Anti-Christ is going to set himself up as God himself! But the Bible wants you to be very very clear that this is only a man. He is nothing more.

Yet, when a person takes the Mark of the Beast, they are choosing to:
a.) Tie their allegiance with the Anti-Christ
b.) They must publicly worship the Beast and his image.
c.) And they must openly reject and deny any allegiance to the true Christ.
This is not forced upon them. They are not shackled, tied down, and forced to take this mark. It must be their own willful and conscientious decision.

II. THE CONTROVERSY

Now here is the part where some theologians might be able to argue about whether or not EVERYONE who takes the Mark of the Beast has no hope of salvation.

Revelation 14:9-109 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Revelation 16:22 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Some might think this to be referring to the continuation of the Great Tribulation.

I must admit, I don’t know what they reasoning is behind Brother DeYoung’s or John MacArthur’s logic, because I have not had the opportunity to go through their entire reasoning, but looking at the passage with an objective eye, I might conclude that this is where they might be coming from.

From a Human Perspective, I would love to agree with therm! God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, and that all would be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). But the truth must be clung to and advanced.

III. THE TRUTH

Let’s go back to Revelation 14, and add just one more verse.

Revelation 14:9-119 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Verse 11 adds one more comment, that “the smoke of their torment will ascend up forever and ever”. As we already know, The Great Tribulation doesn’t last for ever, but ends when the true Christ returns and sets up His Millennial Kingdom. And this term is used in Isaiah 43:10, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 19:3, all of which are referring to eternal judgment. To remove eternal judgment from this one verse would automatically demand us to question the doctrine all-together.

Yet, this idea of those who took the Mark of the Beast being universally condemned is not standing on Revelation 14:11 alone.

Revelation 20:44 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

If you had survived and NOT taken the Mark of the Beast, then you would enter into the Millennial Kingdom. If you had taken the Mark, then you had made your choice, and your soul would be awaiting judgment.

Brother and Sister in Christ, Please, I beg you not to give the lost any false hopes of redemption! What horror it will be to think that they could live through the wrath of God’s anger during the Great Tribulation, openly ally themselves with the Anti-Christ, and then seek asylum in God’s kingdom! As ambassadors of Christ, we do not have the right to voice our opinions, but openly and publicly declare the whole truth of God’s Word.

Without Christ, there is no salvation.
Without Christ, there is no future.
Without Christ, there is no hope.